Apparatus and Method for Measuring and Training Movement for Combat Firearms Performance

Abstract

An apparatus is used to measure movement performance of a user undergoing firearm combat training. A light emitter emits a light signal along a beam path traversing over a starting location such that the light signal is interrupted by a user at the starting location. A target device initiates a visual representation of a threat directed towards a user at the starting location. A light detector detects a non-interference condition of the light emitter in which the light signal along the beam path is not interrupted at the starting location. A controller monitors the light detector and determines when the user has moved away from the starting location into the non-interference condition of the light emitter. The controller may also measure an elapsed time between activation of the target device and determination of the non-interference condition of the light emitter.

1 . An apparatus for measuring movement performance of a user undergoing firearm combat training, the apparatus comprising:
 a target device spaced from a starting location and being arranged to visually represent a threat directed towards the starting location when activated;   a sensor assembly arranged to detect movement of a user away from the starting location, the sensor assembly comprising:
 a light emitter arranged to emit a light signal along a beam path traversing over the starting location; and 
 a light detector arranged to detect an interference condition of the light emitter in which the light signal along the beam path is interrupted at the starting location and a non-interference condition of the light emitter in which the light signal along the beam path is not interrupted at the starting location; 
   a controller arranged to determine when the target device has been activated and determine when the light detector detects a change from the interference condition to the non-interference condition of the light emitter.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is arranged to measure an elapsed time between activation of the target device and detection of a change from the interference condition to the non-interference condition of the light emitter. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the target device is activated by the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the target device comprises a display monitor arranged to display a video image that visually represents the threat. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the controller is arranged to actuate the video image of the target device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the target device comprises a visual object including a visual representation of the threat formed thereon, the visual object operable between a visible condition in which the visual representation is visible from the starting location and a non-visible condition in which the visual representation is not visible from the starting location. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the target device is actuated from the non-visible condition to the visible condition by the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the target device comprises a similar weapon arranged to be operated by an operator. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the controller is arranged to alert the operator to activate the target device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the controller is arranged to detect when the target device has been activated by the operator. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a simulated firearm arranged to be triggered by the user to simulate shooting of the target device by the user, the controller being arranged to determine when the simulated firearm has been triggered by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light emitter is arranged to emit the light signal such that the beam path traverses the starting location at an elevation corresponding to a torso of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light emitter is arranged to emit the light signal such that the beam path traverses the starting location at an elevation corresponding to a head of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light emitter and the light detector are adjacent to one another and wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a reflector arranged to be supported along the beam path opposite to the light emitter and light detector in relation to the starting location therebetween, the reflector being arranged to reflect the emitted light signal back across the starting location to the light detector adjacent to the light emitter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light detector is arranged to be supported along the beam path opposite to the light emitter in relation to the starting location therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . A method of measuring movement performance of a user undergoing firearm combat training, the method comprising:
 positioning the user at a starting location;   using a light emitter to emit a light signal along a beam path traversing over the starting location such that the light signal is interrupted by the user at the starting location;   initiating a visual representation of a threat directed towards the user at the starting location; and   providing a light detector arranged to detect a non-interference condition of the light emitter in which the light signal along the beam path is not interrupted at the starting location;   using a controller to monitor the light detector to determine when the user has moved away from the starting location into the non-interference condition of the light emitter.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  including initiating the visual representation of the threat by activating a target device and using the controller to measure an elapsed time between activation of the target device and determination of the non-interference condition of the light emitter.